Meet Judy Gardner, who just ended as president of the Cancer and Communities Charities organization in Coeur d'Alene. 

Gardner was born in Colorado and her parents moved us to Southern California when it was paradise in 1942, when she was a “wee child.” 

Gardner had an older sister and two younger sisters and graduated from high school in 1957. I went to San Jose State College where she met her husband, Dick.  Marrying in 1959, they had three children and now have 10 grandkids and six great-grandchildren. 

Gardner worked in the insurance industry. When she started people had a fire policy for the house and auto insurance – no one got liability insurance, except businesses, and the homeowner's policy had not yet been created. She then worked on commercial accounts until retiring in 2000. 

The Gardners fell in love with Coeur d Alene when they passed through in 1976 but were not able to move until they were retired.

A lady Gardner met at Fred Meyers invited her to come to a 3Cs meeting which was held at the Triple Play. She joined the Collectible group for three years and when it disbanded, she joined two other gals to create the Funables activity group, which they ran for five years. She stepped away from that five years later and created the Bunco Group

For the past nine years, she has also been co-chair for the 3Cs Holiday Craft Faire. In the meantime, she was the hospitality chair, then vice president, then president in 2014-2016, then vice president from 2022-2024 and then president from 2024-2026. She was also on the Appropriation Committee and chair.

1. Looking back as president of the 3Cs, what comes to mind, how do you feel? 

Gardener: Looking back, I am very proud to have been the president of 3Cs twice. It is a great organization, and our members are very generous. I am sad to be out of office, but it was time. I will continue to be active especially with Bunco and the craft fair.

2. What inspired you to join 3Cs? What is the power and soul of the organization? 

Gardner: I am not a joiner, but when I was told about 3Cs I decided to see what it was all about. Our organization was started in 1962 — I felt these ladies had to be doing something right. Raising money for the local nonprofits was something I decided to get involved with. We just had our Appreciation Luncheon where we gave away $137,000 to 28 local nonprofits. Seeing their appreciation for the grants keeps us all going to do it again next year. To date we have given over $3 million back to the community.

3. What is your fondest memory of 3Cs? Tell me when you felt when 3Cs and yourself made the biggest difference in the community. 

Gardner: My fondest memory was at the Appreciation Luncheon when I was president the first time. I called the name of the person representing the Elks Lodge who was accepting a grant (who happened to be my husband). After accepting the check from the committee chair he came across the river, grabbed me, tipped me back and kissed me! I was so shocked and turned beet red!  

After being on the Appropriation Committee and going out to interview the nonprofits who have been invited to write a grant request, I guess the first time I was on the Appropriation Committee was when I realized just exactly what we were doing and how our money helped the community.

4. What is something that people would be surprised to learn about you? 

Gardner: I think most people know that my husband and kids come first but then my love is to dig in the dirt! I love to garden but my hands have to get dirty to make me really happy — no gloves for me.

5. What are your thoughts on the future of 3 Cs and its incoming president? 

Gardner: I think 3Cs has a great future. We keep getting new members. Some join because of what we do. There are those who join so they can join a specific activity group — Book Club, Bowling, Bridge, Bunco, Couer d’Aleers (our choral group), Funables, Garden Club, Gourmet, Mah Jongg, Showtime Gals and The Golden SoleZ.

I have found this group to be very accepting. I think our new president, Jan Blaud, will do a great job. We are all there to help her and support her as I was supported.

    Judy Gardner and her husband Dick.
  

    Judy Gardner, former president of the 3Cs organization in Coeur d'Alene.